The Welsh Government is finalising a National Energy Strategy that will set out how Wales plans to meet its future energy needs, attract investment and retain more economic value within Welsh communities.
Due to be published later this year, the strategy will outline the Welsh Government’s vision for a low carbon energy system and identify the infrastructure required to deliver it.
The approach will prioritise meaningful community ownership, lower bills and measures to ensure Welsh communities receive the full benefits of low carbon energy developments.
Renewable energy targets will be replaced by emissions reductions, while a clearer evidence base will be used to consider where new energy developments should take place.
The Welsh Government will consider both the suitability of potential project locations and how developers can secure support from the communities hosting them.
Changes will also be made to how energy infrastructure is planned. These will ensure that the scale, location and impact of developments are properly considered while protecting productive agricultural land.
The strategy represents a significant shift in the delivery of energy projects across Wales, with implications for developers, investors, landowners, ports, supply chains and local communities.
As part of this work, Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Connectivity and Energy Adam Price visited the Port of Mostyn and Port of Milford Haven this week to discuss their critical role in supporting the offshore wind sector.
He said:
“The transition to net zero is not just an environmental necessity, it is a major, transformative economic opportunity. Our ambition is to secure sustainable growth, attract further investment, create high-quality jobs and support thriving communities across Wales.
“We are also determined that the communities hosting renewable energy developments are genuine beneficiaries through a new Wales Wealth Fund. As we create clean energy in Wales more of it will be owned in Wales. This will be led by our approach to create the Welsh Public Energy Company.
“We will also develop Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru to create a single national energy company to grow community and local ownership of renewables, while ensuring energy developments are properly considered through the planning system to balance local impact with efficient delivery.
“Alongside this work, we are progressing our policy on undergrounding electricity infrastructure at 132kV and below. The National Energy Strategy will set out the actions and timelines to deliver on all of these changes.”
The strategy will include plans for a new Wales Wealth Fund intended to ensure communities hosting renewable energy developments become direct beneficiaries.
The Welsh Government also plans to create the Welsh Public Energy Company and develop Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru into a single national energy company, increasing community and local ownership of renewable energy.
It is also progressing a policy covering the undergrounding of electricity infrastructure at 132kV and below.
Wales’s ports are expected to have an important role in enabling offshore energy investment and retaining industrial capability, jobs and supply-chain opportunities within the country.
Tom Sawyer, Chief Executive of the Port of Milford Haven, said:
“Ports will play a vital role in supporting the growth of a low carbon economy. As Wales’ largest port and the UK’s leading energy port, we look forward to working alongside government and industry to help deliver this vision.
“Wales can reduce emissions while retaining the industrial capability, skilled jobs and energy infrastructure that underpin our economy, and the Milford Haven Waterway is uniquely placed to help deliver that ambition while ensuring the benefits are retained within Welsh communities.”
The Port of Mostyn is preparing to expand its construction port capabilities ahead of the next generation of offshore energy projects planned for the Irish and Celtic Seas.
Jim O’Toole, Managing Director of the Port of Mostyn, said:
“The Port of Mostyn was pleased to welcome the Cabinet Member to our Port and to learn about the progress of the Welsh National Energy Strategy. His visit also provided us with the opportunity to brief him about our plans to expand our construction port capabilities in readiness for the next generation of offshore energy projects in the Irish and Celtic Seas.”
